A journal dedicated to truth, freedom of speech and radical spiritual consciousness. Our mission is the liberation of men and women from oppression, violence and abuse of any kind, interpersonal, political, religious, economic, psychosexual. We believe as Fidel Castro said, "The weapon of today is not guns but consciousness."

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Magazine for Black Parenting

BLACK IS BACK: The Incredible Story Behind the Relaunch of the First Parenting Magazine for Black Parents

Successful
Black Parenting magazine, originally founded in 1993 and launched in
1995 with 35,000 issues, debuted as the first national print magazine
for African American parents. The founders closed the magazine in 1997.
Twenty-one years later, they are bringing it back.

Continued after the jump ....

"The
time is right to connect with issues being addressed by Black Lives
Matter, like the way racism has resurfaced in our society, and to
respond to the concerns and aspirations Black parents have about
their children's future. There's also a vibrant spirit in our community
that continues to work for a better world, so it's the perfect time to
relaunch," said Janice Celeste, formerly Janice Robinson-Lopez,
one of the founders and editor-in-chief of the magazine. "We started
when my children were babies. Now, my three daughters are adults and
successful in their career and family lives. I'm even a grandmother
now." Success is key to everything Celeste does, right down to her own
children. Her oldest daughter has her master's degree, another is a
fashion designer and modeling agent, and her youngest daughter is
supermodel, Sessilee Lopez, seen on Victoria's Secret runways and on the
cover of Vogue. "All families need support. Black families are no
different. Children also have to see positive images of themselves in
the media," said Celeste, adding, "You cannot be what you cannot see."
"Recently, Janice and I have been saying, 'If we had had the
resources we have today, the magazine would still be on newsstands,'"
said Marta Sánchez, the magazine's co-founder and managing editor.
Celeste agreed, "Today we have more connections, contacts and access to
social media that can get the word out." Sánchez recalled, "This
publication was our baby, we saw it walk, then run. At that time, we had
just enough money to fail. We financed the venture with our money and
donations from family and friends, but what we really needed was a
million-dollar budget. We were like two fleas holding on to a bucking
bull!"
Celeste and Sánchez have a big plan. The digital launch comes first
with a crowdfunding campaign for research and development for print
issues, which will launch in 2018. "Print is evolving," said Celeste.
"It's definitely not dead. We have to cater to the needs of different
readers, those who prefer digital and those who want to feel the quality
of paper in their hands."
On the website, there is something for everyone. There are columns
for single moms to grandparents. "We are the voice of Black families,"
said Celeste, "Our magazine advocates for parents—all caregivers—and
children. The magazine is just the start of much more to come."
For updates, sign-up on Successful Black Parenting's website atSuccessfulBlackParenting.com. The crowdfunding campaign is set to raise $20k for research and development. A second phase to raise $2m in venture capital is for the print publication. To contribute, visit Indiegogo.com or (http://bit.ly/SBPIndiegogo)Contact:Janice CelesteEmail(424) 272-6717
SOURCE: Successful Black ParentingNAPLES, Fla., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

About Me

Truth will not make you rich, but it will make you free.--Francis Bacon

Marvin has been ignored and silenced,like Malcolm would be ignored and silenced if he had lived on into the Now. He's one of the most extraordinary, exciting black intellectuals living today --Rudolph Lewis, Chickenbones.